Sunday, November 21, 2010

Lao Deaf Unit has a chance to voice up at the Human and Disability Right Workshops organized by Lao Disable People Association and National Committee for Disabled People supported by AusAID on the projectBuilding
human and disability rights institutional structures in the Lao PDR.

The aims of the workshop is to raise awareness about disabilities rights; the content of the workshop include the introduction to disability, the presentation of UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disability, the talk by resources persons who represent each type of disability.

The Deaf Unit has two presentation which include the introduction to the deaf culture and barriers of the deaf living in society and the movement of the Deaf Unit from 2003 to 2010.

The organizer plan to have 12 series workshops for different government sectors and mass organization which include:

On the 4 of November 2010 Deaf Unit have been invited to the consultation workshop for formulating an action plan for people with disabilities. This workshop is funded by AusAID on the projectBuilding
human and disability rights institutional structures in the Lao PDR. This project aims to developed ministerial action plans for promote the rights of people with disabilities; seven ministries have involve in this project namely: Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Public Work and Transportation, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Information and Culture and Ministry of Finance.The representative from Deaf Unit emphasize on the employment opportunity for the deaf and how the concerned agencies can help them.

Two representative from Lao Deaf Unit participated in the show with Lao Bang Fai and other disability friends to commemorate the First Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

Creates in 2004, Lao Bang Fa is a dance group that uses street hip-hop techniques to promote modern and traditional culture, primarily targeting Lao PDR's younger generations. the group welcomes marginalized youth such as street children, and aims to inspire young people to share and exchange their feelings through positive expression and to communicate a message of peace and inclusion. The nationally famous group has - and continues to - enhance awareness among Lao citizens about the rights of persons with disabilities as well as other marginalized groups. Lao Bang Fai delivers wide-spread messages about the added value of people with disabilities within an inclusive society Source: HIB

Tawan and Phanita - deaf memebers

The following are the link to the VDO of the performance which combine by 4 shows telling different story by different type of disabled people: part one talked about the imagination of Nam Pheuang, the girl with intellectual disability, part two show the life of deaf people, part three is the inclusive society where everyone can help each other and part 4 is the story of Vongsavath, a boy who fight for living after suffer from an accident from an unexplored bomb.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zy6rzIAnQDU part 1

Lao Deaf Unit participated in the remarkable event 'First Meeting of States Parties to The Convention on cluster Munitions' from 9-12 November 2010 in Vientiane Lao PDR

The meeting brought together more than 1,200 delegates from 121
nations. These included delegates from the 40 countries that have
ratified the convention, 47 signatory countries and 34 nations that have
not signed the convention.

Participants also included those representing more than 150
international and regional organizations as well as non-governmental organizations.

Signed by 108 states and ratified by 46 states, the convention
obliges state parties to destroy stockpiles within eight years and clear
affected areas within 10 years. The convention also obliges party states to provide an unprecedented level of assistance to cluster munitions victims.

During the meeting, several nations announced contributions to UXO
clearance in Laos totaling about US$30 million through grant aid and
non-governmental organisation funding.

The 66-point plan commits to implement fully all of the obligations
under the convention and speed up deadlines and set budgets as well as
targets to make it happen. The United Nations issued strong statements of support at the
Vientiane meeting and remains committed to the convention, its early universalize and full implementation.The meeting agreed to reconvene in Lebanon in September 2011, as that country is also seriously contaminated by cluster bombs.Source: Vientiane Times

Thursday, November 11, 2010

The last day of the annual meeting of DHHU discussed three main issues:
lesson learn from the meeting previous day

reporting on 2010 activities what have been done and what still need to be done
future plans which emphasize on finding other donor to run the project after SHIA funding which will finished the end of 2010

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Lao Deaf and Hard of Hearing Unit organized the annual meeting to present about their activities and future plan; the meeting was held at National Rehabilitation Center on 2 November 2010 with more than 40 participants from governments agencies, representative from World Federation of the Deaf, Swedish National Association of the Deaf, Swedish association of hard of hearing people, NGOs, disabled organizations, deaf members and their parents.

The meeting was started with the presentation of Mr. Bountem Chantalivong - director of DHHU- about what have they done for seven year from 2003 - 2010under the financial support form SHIA. some of the key success include: the expansion of members net work and special school for the deaf and hard of hearing children in two provinces namely Luangprabang and Savannakhet. Latest data shown that there are 278 members in three provinces with the highest number of 218 members in Vientiane Capital. The other successful stories is the strengthening the capacity of DHHU
board members and other members through many trainings, for instance:
leadership training, sign language training, writing project proposal
training, and advocacy training.

Then the future plans was introduced which include the development of Lao Sign Language Dictionary project, preparing to register as NPA, public awareness raising, increase number of SL interpreter, and teaching Lao sign Language for deaf children who are not able to access school.

After the presentation there was a active discussion and many comments were raise:

upgrade the sign language interpreter both in term of quantity and quality

public awareness raising about disability rights and the important of Sign Language